A view from the shadows

Oshar watched her as she traced her fingertips above the soft petals of the garden. Her touch so delicate and hesitant that one might see fragility in the motion. That would be a mistake. There was fire and steel within this one... and power. He did not need the instruction of the Ascendant to tell him that secret. It was palpable.

His meeting with Tamazzalt had been worryingly brief. The man seemed both pleased to see him and eager to be rid of him all at once. He had presented the stone and Tamazzalt had snatched it away murmuring something about the final name and had then refused all questions before dismissing the assassin with an absent wave of his hand. Oshar could not help but feel hurt by the treatment. Was this truly the reception due to the Herald of the Maelstrom?

He had needed distraction. So he had come here to the garden and found her standing there. She had not seen him of course, he did not wish it. The whispers of the temple were all centred around this woman. A woman admired by the Ascendant himself and treated as an equal? This he would not believe until witnessed. Tamazzalt was surely too proud for such a thing to be true.

She stood surveying her garden like each small flower were a penitent stretching toward her. Shalia Nix was an impressive sight. Oshar considered what it would feel like to end her life. To snuff out the raging flame of her power and watch it dim into nothingness. It would be exquisite.

Oshar held his breath as he watched her reach for the delicate blooms and then with a smooth and decisive movement she withdrew her hands and folded them behind her back. As she walked slowly away, the sunlight seemed to stream about her in a golden halo of warmth. The assassin was mesmerised.

Slowly he reached for the soul stone about his neck and then realised it was gone, delivered to the hands of the Ascendant in preparation for the trial. As he watched her walk through the garden he noted the priests and guards, many of them no doubt placed here specifically for her safety. Tamazzalt was taking no risks with her life. That was certain. Oshar amusing himself for a moment, considering how he might kill the woman in this place despite the precautions of the Ascendant. He could see seven clear paths to her demise, and only three of those would demand his own death to complete.

She appeared to laugh to herself and he considered leaving the shadows and venturing out to meet her. Tamazzalt would not like that he was certain. He liked to store his toys in separate boxes. It would not do for them to start playing the game without him.

"Ah so he does have some sense." the voice of Melandra was close by and Oshar closed his eyes to force her away.

"Far too little and far too late." replied the Crone and then the two women broke into roaring laughter as Oshar turned and fled, leaving all thoughts of Shalia Nix behind him.